MEXICO CITY, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Wednesday called for guaranteeing the "protection and human rights" of Central American migrants.

According to Honduran media, the latest caravan of migrants seeking asylum in the United States is making its way north towards Mexico's southern border, after setting out from the northern Honduran city of San Pedro Sula on Monday and Tuesday.

The caravan comprised about 1,000 people traveling in two groups. Like the previous caravans that made the journey in the fall of 2018, this one was organized via social networks.

Mexican authorities have been preparing for several weeks to head off the kind of violent incidents that occurred in October, when hundreds of undocumented migrants rushed Mexico's southern border, wading through river water to avoid checkpoints.

Mexico's Interior Ministry said earlier this week only migrants who comply with procedures will be allowed in.

Still, hundreds of migrants from last year's caravans remain in shelters in the Mexican border city of Tijuana, waiting to apply for asylum in the United States.